Shoe-tree.



D. J. MARKEY.

SHOE TREE.

APPLICATION TILED 831 1229, 1908.

971,622, Patented 001;.4, 1910.

DAVID J". MARKEY, 0F FREDERICK, MARYLAND.

SHOE-TREE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

Application filed September 29, 1908. Serial No. 455,313.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID J. MARKEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Frederick, in the county of Frederick and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Trees, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoe trees and its objects are to produce a device simple in construction and which may be easily and quickly adjusted to fit shoes of different sizes. Its novel features and the advantages thereof will be understood from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the parts separated; and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View.

My shoe tree is made up of a front part 1 which is made of a shape to fit the toe part of a shoe and a heel part 2. The front part 1 is preferably made of thin material such as metal or papier-'mach bent into the proper shape, leaving the bottom and rear end open, but it will be understood that it may be made in various ways without departing from my invention. Within the rear end of this front part I provide a series of sockets arranged at different points longitudinally of the shoe tree for the purpose hereafter explained. These sockets may be formed in any suitable way, but I preferably secure a plate 3 to the inner surface of the front part by rivets 4 and make a series of holes 5 in this piece 3 to constitute the above mentioned socket.

It will be understood that the sockets upon each side are opposite those upon the other side, thus constituting within the front part a series of oppositely disposed sockets arranged at different points longitudinally of the shoe tree. Proper depth may be given to these sockets by making the holes in a portion of the piece 3 which is separated a slight distance from the walls of the front part 1.

The heel part 2 has secured to its front face an eye 6 of proper shape to receive the U-shaped bend 7 of the arm 8 and to furnish a pivotal support for that arm. The U- shaped bend 7 and the eye 6 are of such shape that the arm 8 will not only have free pivotal movement, but will hold the heel part 2 in line with the arm 8, and so that there will be no lateral twist. The free ends of the arm 8 are bent outwardly forming the oppositely disposed points 9 and 10 which are adapted to enter the sockets 5 in the front part of the shoe tree. The U-shaped arm 8 is made of spring metal and thus the points 9 and 10 are pressed outwardly and made to firmly engage the sockets. In order to release the arm 8 from any pair of sockets it is only necessary for the user to grasp the two side bars of the U-shaped arm, pressing them together, and thus the points 9 and 10 may be adjusted to engage another set of sockets so as to properly regulate the length of the shoe tree.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the details of construction shown without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a shoe tree, the combination with a heelpart, of a forepart comprising a thin hollow shell open at the bottom and at the rear end and constructed to conform to the shoe, a Ushaped plate secured to the forepart at the sides thereof so as to lie closely against the same at all points and having formed therein a plurality of oppositely disposed sockets, and a link pivotally connected to the heelpart and provided with lugs adapted to engage the sockets, whereby the interior of the forepart is left entirely unobstructed for the reception of the heelpart when the form is collapsed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID J. MARKEY.

Witnesses:

J. W. L. CARTY, WM. D. ZIMMERMAN. 

